In August a cell phone video surfaced that captured Detroit Police Corporal Dwayne Jones repeatedly punching a naked, unarmed woman as other officers restrained her. Shortly after this Police Chief Craig suspended Jones with pay. On December 3rd the Wayne County prosecutor’s office arraigned Jones on felony misconduct and misdemeanor assault and battery charges. He will be back in court this Wednesday.

On Thursday, December 6th The Detroit Board of Police Commissioners voted 5 to 2 to return Jones to duty against the advice of Chief Craig who recommended suspension without pay. Commissioner Burton, who will be at the press conference, was alone in asking for more time so that the board could make a fully informed decision.

“We need to invest heavily in training officers when they come in contact with the mentally ill. The police also need to look at what Minneapolis is doing, deploying case workers out on those mental health runs. Minneapolis has the best model. The program worked there it can also work here. ”

“Wrong is wrong, this officers actions were wrong. We must stand for justice.” Proclaimed Reverend Charles Williams II, President of the National Action Network’s Michigan Chapter.

DRACO founder Scotty Boman remarked, “The job of the Board of Police Commissioners is oversight. If a blue wall stands between them and what is right, it is their job to scale that wall. Instead, five commissioners chose to be bricks in that wall.